Acing the Argumentative Essay on the GED is a short writing tutorial to help students develop the techniques and skills required to master the Writing exam on the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts test.
The majority of students, even if they are good writers, struggle with the GED essay. It can be quite a daunting task if you haven’t had sufficient practice as this specific type of essay.
Most students know how to present an argument. That’s not too hard, but the GED essay requires students to evaluate TWO opposing arguments and then compose their own essay which comments on the two and proposes another argument, by arguing that one of them is better than the other. It can easily become confusing!
The assignment requires you to demonstrate that you can pick a side in the given controversy and then compose a convincing essay of your own, which states why the one side’s arguments are more compelling than the other. Your essay is about the Texts, not about the topic that they are arguing about!
You need to show the reader, in a formal, professional style of writing the evidence that supports YOUR argument about which text has the most persuasive arguments and evidence to support its point of view.
How do you pick the most convincing argument. What criteria should you use?
How do you present evidence to support your own choice?
How do you do that with authority?
How do you persuade your reader?
How do you build an argument which is logical and convincing?
All my students are also using this course when they do English. It is extremely helpful.
Jenny Moor, Principal of Haven Academy, Student Support Centre
Most students are stressed out when faced with this sort of essay-writing task. They usually don’t have a clue how to structure a good essay of any kind, but especially not this very specific type of argumentative essay. They have no inkling about how it will be assessed and graded. Most students don’t receive very high scores at all for their essays.
Argumentative essays commonly flop because they are confusing. Many students are not very successful at connecting their thoughts and presenting their arguments in a logical manner. They switch back and forth between the two points of view and do not give good evidence to support their own argument. Very often the students quote from the texts, but fail to comment on the information given and use it to support their own arguments.
The argumentative essay on the GED requires its own unique format. It is not the same as creative writing or writing a narrative essay or a report. In order for the student’s essay to be compelling, it needs key elements that other kinds of essay writing do not require.
Don’t take our word for it, see what others say:
Acing the Argumentative Essay was extremely helpful, thanks. ~Elsabé Pienaar
Awesome course. It really helped my son a lot.
~ Annetjie Nel
We are very keen to actually have all our Year 9 to 11 students do the course. I am also going to have my staff do the course as a tool to upskill their English essay marking and editing skills for all grades.
~Bronwyn Murray, Thrive Academy
Your argumentative essay course is amazing. Kavan aced his RLA. Bearing in mind that this second child of mine has major learning disabilities as well as physical disabilities, he aced his RLA. Super stoked.~ Marinda Erwee
I bought it. Brilliant! ~ Susan Allin
How do you Ace the Argumentative Essay on the GED?
The purpose of the argumentative essay is to empower students to develop valuable critical thinking and analytical skills. You have to learn to evaluate two texts which present opposing views and then discuss these different perspectives – even views that might not support what you believe about a given topic.
Despite your personal beliefs on a topic, you may find that the evidence presented in a particular text, in direct opposition to your own opinions and beliefs is, in this instance, more convincing than the evidence provided in the other text, which actually supports your personal standpoint.
How do you do that?
- How do you put aside your personal beliefs?
- How to you prevent your emotions from obscuring sound judgment?
- How do you stop your own bias or preference from weakening your argument?
You have to learn to question, challenge and evaluate information. These skills are vital for conquering the GED® and for success in life.
Acing the argumentative essay on the GED® will not be so intimidating, once you have developed and refined these skills.
Most of us have never mastered the basics of good essay writing, let alone developed skills to analyse, criticise, compare and contrast. We are clueless!
I am using this and it’s truly brilliant.
Marelen van Rooyen, Principal of MPower Learning Centre
You need tools and you need a plan.
Acing the Argumentative Essay on the GED is the solution you need.
Master the basics, then practice the essential skills for acing the argumentative essay on the GED®
This short course, crafted by linguist and GED expert, Shirley Erwee, provides the tools and techniques you need to build a well-thought-out and convincing essay, block-by-block!
Acing the Argumentative Essay on the GED includes:
- A downloadable video lesson of about 30 minutes
- A printable transcript of the lesson
- A printable workbook with step-by-step writing prompts and guidance
- A guide through writing a practice essay, based on a two sample texts
- An easy outline to plan your well thought-out essay
- A list of criteria to use when you evaluate opposing points and search for convincing evidence
- A strategy to help pick your side in the debate
- Skills to compare and contrast, to argue and concede
- A set of knock-out vocabulary to powerfully build your arguments and persuade your reader.
- A list of effective phrases to use like building blocks to create a logical flow of ideas
- Examples to mimic
- Six texts on 3 topics to help you practice your essay writing skills.
- A better understanding of how your essay will be evaluated in the GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts test
- A time management strategy to ensure you write your essay and edit and check it in the given time
Become a master in essay writing
The Acing the Argumentative Essay course will build your self-confidence and reduce the exam-anxiety that you (or your students) may experience.
It equips you with the skills you need to be test-ready and empowers you to conquer any argumentative essay topic.
You will have the tools to compare and evaluate the given texts as well as the abilities to build a logical, top-scoring argumentative essay.
The practice and experience from this writing course will boost your competence!
Remember, every accomplishment begins with the decision to try. Decide now to ace your argumentative essay.
Sign up today!
